Jay-Z among Time's Most Influential People

Jay-Z has been named one of Time's most influential people.

Gracing the cover of Time's coveted “100 Most Influential People In The World” issue is mega-music mogul Jay-Z.

Over the course of a year, Mr. Carter used his ever-expanding brand to put his mark on the recently moved Brooklyn Nets (only to promptly sell his minimal shares with the team and become the leader of a sports agency), created the Made In America music festival in Philadelphia, and even made waves with a trip to Cuba. (He's also married to Beyoncé, which is a pretty big deal in its own right.)

In the issue, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke on behalf of his influence, saying: “Jay-Z embodies so much of what makes New York New York. A kid from a tough neighborhood who grows up in public housing, overcomes lots of bad influences on the street, never lets go of his dream, makes it to the top — and then keeps going, pursuing new outlets for his creativity and ambition. When no one would sign him to a record contract, he created his own label and built a music empire — before going on to design clothing lines, open sports bars and, most recently, represent professional athletes. He’s an artist-entrepreneur who stands at the center of culture and commerce in 21st century America, and his influence stretches across races, religions and regions.”